Golf club and practice arrangement

Abstract

A golf club and target practice arrangement is disclosed for use in the game of golf. The golf club includes a shaft and a head attached to the shaft. A cavity is formed in the head and a removable light-producing insert is located within the cavity which, when activated, can project a beam of light from the golf club to the target. A non-light producing insert is also provided so as to be selectively received within the cavity in place of the light producing insert. The target includes a reflective surface and a plurality of light-receiving sensors for receiving the beam of light from the golf club. Further included on the target are an indicator light and a speaker for providing visual and audio feedback when the beam of light contacts the sensors. A visor and a tunnel may also be used with the target to shield outside light which may interfere with the sensors and visibility of the indicator light under certain conditions.

1 . A golf club, comprising: 
 a shaft;    a head joined to the shaft;    a first insert being light-producing and configured so as to be operably and removably received within the cavity; and    a second insert configured so as to be operably and removably received within the cavity in place of the first insert;    wherein the head comprises a ball-striking surface with an aperture formed therein for allowing light to pass therethrough and a cavity located adjacent the aperture.    
   
   
       2 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the second insert is non-light-producing.  
   
   
       3 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the first insert is substantially equal in weight to the second insert.  
   
   
       4 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the ball-striking surface includes a translucent material disposed over the aperture.  
   
   
       5 . The golf club of  claim 1 , further comprising a prism disposed in the cavity, wherein the prism columnates a beam of light produced by a light-producing source in the first insert to form a line of light on a surface between the head and a target.  
   
   
       6 . The golf club of  claim 5 , wherein at least portion of the beam of light is projected directly to and is reflected by a surface of the target.  
   
   
       7 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the first insert further includes a battery, a light-producing source powered by the battery, and a switch allowing a user to selectively activate the light-producing source.  
   
   
       8 . The golf club of  claim 7 , wherein the first insert further includes a prism and a housing, wherein the housing encloses the prism, the battery, the light-producing source, and the switch.  
   
   
       9 . The golf club of  claim 8 , wherein the head includes a bottom surface, a first cover plate for the bottom surface of the head for use in conjunction with the first insert and a second cover plate for the bottom surface of the head for use in conjunction with the second insert.  
   
   
       10 . The golf club of  claim 9 , wherein the first cover plate includes access to the switch for use in selectively activating the light-producing source.  
   
   
       11 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture is located at an approximate midpoint of the ball-striking surface.  
   
   
       12 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the first insert weighs more than the second insert.  
   
   
       13 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the first insert weighs less than the second insert.  
   
   
       14 . A golf club, comprising: 
 a shaft;    a head joined to the shaft;    a first insert being light-producing, having a light-producing source and configured so as to be operably and removably received within the cavity;    a second insert being non-light-producing and configured so as to be operably and removably received within the cavity in place of the first insert;    a first cover plate for the bottom surface of the head for use in conjunction with the first insert; and    a second cover plate for the bottom surface of the head for use in conjunction with the second insert;    wherein the head comprises a ball-striking surface with an aperture formed therein, and located at an approximate midpoint thereof, for allowing light to pass therethrough, a cavity located adjacent the aperture, and a bottom surface;    wherein the first light-producing insert comprises a prism disposed in the cavity, the prism for columnating a beam of light produced by the light-producing source in the first insert to form a line of light on a surface between the head and a target, wherein a portion of the beam of light is projected directly to, and is reflected by, a surface of the target, a battery connected to the light-producing source, and a switch allowing a user to selectively activate the light-producing source and weights; and    wherein the first cover plate includes access to the switch for use in selectively activating the light-producing source.    
   
   
       15 . A golf practice arrangement, comprising a target for use in combination with a golf club, the target comprising: 
 a plurality of light-receiving sensors for receiving at least a portion of a beam of light produced by the golf club; and    an indicator light activated when one or more of the plurality of light-receiving sensors receives the beam of light.    
   
   
       16 . The practice arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the target includes a reflective surface adapted to extend transversely to a target line produced by the beam of light, the surface having a plurality of regularly-spaced marks thereon.  
   
   
       17 . The practice arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the target further includes a speaker activated when the beam of light produced meets one or more of the plurality of light-receiving sensors.  
   
   
       18 . The practice arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the target includes a visor removably secured to a top portion of the target over the light-receiving sensors.  
   
   
       19 . The practice arrangement of  claim 18 , and a tunnel removably secured to a bottom portion of the target in front of the light-receiving sensors for directing at least a portion of the beam of light toward the sensors.  
   
   
       20 . The practice arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the target includes a switch for allowing a user to selectively activate the plurality of light-receiving sensors.  
   
   
       21 . The practice arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the target includes a battery for activating the plurality of light-receiving sensors and the indicator light.  
   
   
       22 . The practice arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the target includes an internal surface and a light pipe in the surface over the indicator light.  
   
   
       23 . The practice arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the target includes an open-ended insert removably secured by a resilient frictional interference fit in an opening in the surface around the plurality of light-receiving sensors for directing at least a portion of the beam of light produced toward the sensors.  
   
   
       24 . The practice arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the target includes a portion configured to extend around a golf hole to allow securement of the target in a position relative to the golf hole.  
   
   
       25 . The practice arrangement of  claim 24 , wherein the portion includes holes to accept golf tees, or other similarly shaped objects, to secure the target to a playing surface below the target and in a position relative to the golf hole.  
   
   
       26 . A golf practice arrangement, comprising a target for use in combination with a golf club, the golf club comprising: 
 a shaft;    a head joined to the shaft;    a first insert being light-producing, having a light-producing source and configured so as to be operably and removably received within the cavity;    a second insert being non-light-producing and configured so as to be operably and removably received within the cavity in place of the first insert;    a first cover plate for the bottom surface of the head for use in conjunction with the first insert; and    a second cover plate for the bottom surface of the head for use in conjunction with the second insert;    wherein the head comprises a ball-striking surface with an aperture formed therein, and located at an approximate midpoint thereof, for allowing light to pass therethrough, a cavity located adjacent the aperture, and a bottom surface;    wherein the first light-producing insert comprises a prism disposed in the cavity, the prism for columnating a beam of light produced by the light-producing source in the first insert to form a line of light on a surface between the head and a target, wherein a portion of the beam of light is projected directly to, and is reflected by, a surface of the target, a battery connected to the light-producing source, and a switch allowing a user to selectively activate the light-producing source and weights; and    wherein the first cover plate includes access to the switch for use in selectively activating the light-producing source; and    the target comprising:    a surface for reflecting at least a portion of a beam of light produced by the golf club;    a plurality of light-receiving sensors for receiving at least a portion of a beam of light produced by the golf club; and    an indicator light activated when one or more of the plurality of light-receiving sensors receives the beam of light.    a speaker activated when a beam of light produced by the golf club meets one or more of the plurality of light-receiving sensors;    a visor removably secured to a top portion of the target over the light-receiving sensors;    a tunnel removably secured to a bottom portion of the target in front of the light-receiving sensors for directing at least a portion of the beam of light toward the sensors;    a switch for allowing a user to selectively activate the plurality of light-receiving sensors of the target;    a battery for activating the plurality of light-receiving sensors and the indicator light;    an internal surface and a light pipe in the surface over the indicator light;    an open-ended insert removably secured by a resilient frictional interference fit in an opening in the surface around the plurality of light-receiving sensors for directing at least a portion of the beam of light produced toward the sensors;    a portion configured to extend around a golf hole to allow securement of the target in a position relative to the golf hole, wherein the portion includes holes to accept golf tees, or other similarly shaped object, to secure the target to a playing surface below the target and in a position relative to the golf hole; and    wherein the surface for reflecting at least a portion of a beam of light produced by the golf club is adapted to extend transversely to a target line produced by the beam of light, the surface having a plurality of regularly-spaced marks thereon.